Iranian pragmatists

The Iranian pragmatists are a political faction in Iran composed of moderate clerics and the merchant elite that see the Islamic Republic as a mean to retain power.^[1] The pragmatic faction is receptive to negotiate with the West and many would prefer a socialist market economy rather than closed markets.^[a]^[b]

Notable pragmatists

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Hassan Khomeini
Hassan Rouhani

Notes

^ Thaler et al. (2011) "The pragmatic conservatives [...] argue for technical and financial cooperation with the West[.] Despite harboring some suspicions [...] the pragmatic conservatives appear to view slowly warming relations with the West as a key to improving Iran's economy and global standing."^[2]
^ Nader et al. (2011) "Many [pragmatic conservatives] would prefer the Chinese model of economic progress without extensive democratization."^[3]

References

^ Sherrill, Clifton. "After Khamenei: Who Will Succeed Iran's Supreme Leader?". Orbis. 55 (4): 631–47.
^ Thaler; et al. (2010). Mullahs, Guards, and Bonyads: An Exploration of Iranian Leadership Dynamics. Sacramento, CA: RAND Corporation. ISBN 978-0-8330-4773-1.
^ Nader, Alireza; Thaler, David; Bohandy, S. (2011). The Next Supreme Leader: Succession in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. ISBN 978-0-8330-5133-2.